Reactions To Oklahoma Bombing Arab-american View

Letters to the Editor

April 23, 1995

WITH SHOCK and horror, my Arab-American friends and I greeted the act of terror against innocent children and defenseless citizens in Oklahoma Ciy. I'm confident that the perpetrators will be apprehended promptly and punished accordingly. But sadly, no arrest or punishment could even begin to heal the wounds, the physical and emotional destruction suffered by the the people of Oklahoma City.

Arab-Americans, however, will suffer tremendously because of the act of a murderous few.

First, the obvious pain comes from the bombing, which was targeted against Americans of all ethnic and religious backgrounds. Explosions don't discriminate as they destroy buildings.

In addition, the frequent result of such an act of terror is a heightened level of discrimination - verbal and physical attacks - against Arab- and Muslim-Americans. Such abuse is devastating and puts Americans of Arab descent in the awkward position of having to ''prove their innocence.''

The irony is that most Arab-Americans are here to get away from wars and civil strife, and, when such an act of terror is committed, somehow they are blamed for it. In an attempt to be ''first,'' news-media outlets are quick to identify possible suspects without confirming the validity of such information, adding to the confusion and chaos of the tragedy.

I urge people and the news media to act with restraint and be careful when using terms such as ''Muslim terrorists'' or ''Middle Eastern-looking''; such terminology is discriminatory and incriminating. Arab-Americans share the pain and anger such venomous attacks cause to all citizens of our nation.